Milwaukee, Racine & Troy N scale freight cars

Artwork for Milwaukee, Racine & Troy N scale 50-foot double-door boxcar painted Oxide Red with white doors

The Kalmbach Hobby Store has exciting news for N scale modelers. In 2022, we’ll be releasing two new freight cars decorated for the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, Model Railroader’s freelanced staff layout. The custom-decorated cars are made in the U.S. by Micro-Trains Line Co. Both body styles will be offered in one road number. In […]

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Bill Clark’s S gauge layout

Track plan overview

Facts & features Name: Bill Clark’s S gauge layout Dimensions: 9 x 20½ feet Track and switches: Gilbert American Flyer Motive power: American Models, Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer Rolling stock: American Models, Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer Controls: American Flyer nos. 12B (2), 30B (2) transformers with Lionel FlyerChief and Legacy command control Accessories: […]

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Amtrak aims to add routes, frequencies; raise speeds in Pennsylvania

White diesel locomotive passes stone station on overcast day

Amtrak plans to add three short-haul routes in Pennsylvania and double both Keystone Service and Pennsylvanian train frequencies, Amtrak President Stephen Gardner told Gov. Tom Wolf and other public officials in a recent online roundtable talk about the company’s ConnectsUS 15-year regional corridor vision. The three routes are: New York City-Scranton, Pa., 136 miles via […]

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N scale Montgomery & Cole Subdivision

Track plan overview

Facts & features Name: Montgomery & Cole Subdivision Scale: N (1:160) Size: 10′-0″ x 10′-0″ Prototype: Great Northern, BNSF Ry., and CP Rail Locale: western Montana, eastern Washington Era: 1970s – ’80s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 78 feet Minimum radius: 9″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3.5 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 441⁄2″ Roadbed: […]

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St. Louis TRRA Merchants Bridge project reaches major milestone

Red crane hovers over bridge truses in front of St. Louis Arch

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Railroad reached a major milestone on Friday when the first of three replacement spans on the Merchants Bridge was floated into position on the Mississippi River at St. Louis. Owned by the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, the Merchants Bridge project is a […]

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The Eastport Branch in HO

Track plan overview

Facts & features Name: The Eastport Branch Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 15 x 20 feet Prototype: freelanced, representing various New England railroads Locale: New England Era: steam-to-diesel transition era to second-generation diesel Style: around the walls Mainline run: 70 feet Minimum radius: 26″ Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: L-girder on cabinet tops and wall brackets […]

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Aluminum Alton

Silver-colored boxcar among tall brick industrial buildings

Aluminum Alton Alton Route was one of several railroads to dabble with experimental aluminum boxcars for express service. Note the steam line (horizontal pipe) and signal line (small hose below the brake hose) for passenger service. Alton photo […]

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CN fined $2.5 million by Canadian environmental agency

Canadian National logo

PRINCE RUPERT, British Columbia — Canadian National has been fined C$2.5 million for spraying pesticides near a river along its line to the port of Prince Rupert, B.C., in violation of the federal fisheries act, Environment and Climate Change Canada announced in a press release. The fine comes after CN entered a guilty plea on […]

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Visit the Burlington Garden Center’s garden railroad

Scenic garden railway

Garden center owner Walt Uebele had an idea—build a garden railway to keep the husbands and kids entertained while the wives shopped. Little did he know that folks of all ages would love watching the trains run. Watch an interview conducted by Production Editor Rene Schweitzer about the railway and its beginnings, only on Trains.com! […]

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Metra launches Saturday excursions on Heritage Corridor

Commuter train rounds curve with buildings in background

CHICAGO — Beginning this weekend, Metra will offer special weekend excursions on its Heritage Corridor line for five Saturdays, designed to give passengers the opportunity to explore bike and hiking paths, festivals, restaurants, breweries, and other features of communities along the route. The “Rails, Trails and Ales” excursions will provide two round trips each Saturday […]

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